Multiple item printing apparatus



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www @i Sept. 12, 1967 R. w. SHOUP MULTIPLE-ITEM PRTING APPARATUS FiledMay 26, 1965 5 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent Office 3,340,801MULTIPLE ITEM PRINTING APPARATUS Robert W. Shoup, Wycko, NJ., assignorto Autographic Business Forms, Inc., South Hackensack, NJ., acorporation of New Jersey Filed May 26, 1965, Ser. No. 458,891 31Claims. (Cl. 101-90) This invention relates generally to an apparatusfor printing individual indicia on multiple items, bank checks, bankdeposit slips and the like for example, formed into a continuous strip,and more particularly to an apparatus for high speed printing of aplurality of groups of items, each having indicia common to all thegroups, with indicia individual to each group.

In common with known apparatus, the present invention provides apparatusfor printing a plurality of groups of checks, deposit slips and likecommercial forms with personalized indicia, such as the name of adepositor and his bank account number, on two separate lines `of a form,the forms being preprinted with the indicia yconventional to such formsand being joined together in a continuous strip of sufficient length toprint a large number of groups each consisting of a relatively smallnumber of items.

This is accomplished in one such apparatus by providing a pair of spacedapart printing units having individually settable non-traveling printingwheels which are automatically set to indicate a single line ofindividual indicia to -be printed by each unit in response to signalsreceived from electronic punch `card reading and memory storagecomponents associated with the printing units, the signals beingtransmitted to the printing units in accordance with data stored on thepunch cards which is indicative of the lines of alphabetic and numericindicia.

Such apparatus while efficient when used to print groups of items withfew items in each group was quite complicated and quite expensive toproduce.

In another form of known apparatus for printing checks and the like withindividual indicia for different groups substantially as describedabove, this is accomplished by means of a plurality of fixed type slugs,which are carried by a hinged chase manually movable between a closedprinting position and an open position where the slugs are accessiblefor removal and for replacement when changing from the printing of onegroup of items to another.

Such apparatus while eflicient when used to print groups of items with alarge number of items in each group was quite simple and relativelyinexpensive to produce but it-s operation involves considerable loss oftime since the printing had to be stopped while changing the printingslugs from one group job to the next.

It is an important object of this invention to provide an apparatus forprinting checks .and the like in the above described manner for use whenthe num-ber of items in each groups falls between the small numberinvolved in the first described apparatus and the large number involvedin the second described apparatus and yet which combines the high speedof operation and flexibility of information and format obtainable fromcontinuous strip advancement past settable non-traveling printingelements with the availability of plural and lengthy lines of indiciaand simplicity and inexpensiveness of structure resulting from the useof preformed type slugs carried by a chase.

A further Vobject of this invention is to provide an apparatus forprinting checks and the like in the above manner which is fully orsemi-automatically cyclically operable to print a plurality of groups ofchecks without interruption except for a brief moment required to alterthe position of preformed type slugs carried by a chase.

A significant feature of this invention, in achieving the foregoingobject, is the provision of means for having the preformed type slugs ofone group of items in position to be -accessible to an operator of theapparatus for manual removal from a slug holder While the slugs of adifferent group of items are in a printing position and printingtherefrom is being performed, thereby permitting the exchange of typeslugs While the apparatus is in operation and eliminating the downtimenormally encountered in changing slugs in a single chase or in changingchases. A quick-acting manually operable locking means facilitates therapid change of type slugs during the period of time required to print amoderate size group of checks.

A further object is to provide a printing device having novel printingelement holding and releasing structure particularly suited for use withthe apparatus of this invention.

Another object is to provide ya printing device having printing elementholding and releasing structure which is constructed and arranged suchthat manually operable members or handles thereof are similarly orientedand manually movable in the same direction when the printing device isin either of two operating positions.

A still further object is to provide an apparatus for printing items inthe above described manner in which at least two spacedapart printingunits are effective to print sequentially on a continuously moving stripfrom nontraveling printing elements with the lines of alphabetic indiciaprinted by one unit and the line of numeric indicia printed by anotherunit appearing on each item closer together than the spacing between theprinting units.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will behereinafter pointed out or made readily apparent 'when the specificationis considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus embodying the principles ofthis invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view, partly in section, of the apparatus illustratedin FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3 3of FIG. 2 through the upper unit and on the line 3a 3a and of FIG. 2through the impression devices of the lower unit;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4 4of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a further enlarged sectional view of the chase carrier takenon the line 5 5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 5 taken on the line 6 6 ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side View of the chase carrier adjustment ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 8 8 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a schematic wiring diagram of the apparatus 0f this invention;

FIG. l0 is a fragmentary view of one illustrative form capable of beingprinted by the apparatus of this invention; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 6 illustrating analternate embodiment of the apparatus.

Concept of the invention The apparatus of this invention is intendedprimarily to print a variety of commercial forms and documents withindicia individual to a given customer, of which a typical bank check Aas illustrated in FIG. 10 is an example. The check is initially preparedin the form of a continuous strip 38 of indefinite length having aplurality of such checks printed thereon in blank form with thecustomary information of the bank name and location, and the date,amount, payee, and signature lines.

Each check A is separated on the strip by a weakened line B tofacilitate later separation of the checks, and the strip is providedwith a marginal portion C contain- Patented Sept. l2, 1967 3 ug pinholes D by which the strip is fed through the ,pparatus hereinafterdescribed after which the portions 3 may be removed.

The apparatus receives thestrip 38 and prints succesively on each checkA one or more upper lines of alpha- )etic indicia E which may typicallycomprise a depositors lame, street address, and city and state location.This nformation is printed by one printing device. A lower ine ofnumeric indicia F is printed by another printing levice which printspreferably in magnetic ink character 'ecognition symbols suitable forsensing by commercial tutomated check sorting machines. Thus the checks:merge from the apparatus of this invention imprinted with theindividualized information as illustrated in FIG. after which the checksfor a plurality of cus- :omers each in predetermined quantity areseparated from he strip and each other, sorted and forwarded to theieveral customers.

It is to be understood that while a typical check has Jeen illust-ratedin FIG. l0, the apparatus is intended to mprint such information on awide variety of preprinted orms with one or more lines of informationdisposed in any desired location on the form, either in conventional:haracter type and ink or magnetic ink character recognition type andink, or both.

Major components and power supply Referring now to FIG. 1, theprinciples of this invention are embodied in one form of printingapparatus 10 which generally comprises a lower unit 12 which includes apaper strip feeding means, impression devices and actuating meanstherefor, and power means for operating both the feeding means and theactuating means for the impression devices. The apparatus 10 alsogenerally comprises an upper unit 14 which supports the printing devicesand carbon strip guiding and feeding mechanism for effecting transfer ofprint to the strip of preprinted joined items.

The upper unit 14 is suitably hinged to the lower unit 12 by means of apair of hinge supports 16 on opposite sides of the lower unit and a pairof stub shafts 18 on the upper unit which rotate in a bushing 20 (seeFIG. 8) secured to the supports 16 by clamping blocks 22. A retainingbracket 24 pivotally supported on the lower unit as at 26 is rotated bymeans of pin 28 riding in the slot 30 as the upper unit 14 is raised,and locks the upper unit in open position when the pin 28 catches in therecess 32 formed in the end of the slot 30. Thus the upper unit 14 maybe raised to an almost vertical position to facilitate inserting thepaper strip at the beginning of a run, and also for service or repair ofthe apparatus.

The lower unit 12 comprises a frame 34 having spaced apart side members34a and 34b (FIG. 2) upon which the foregoing structure is mounted, anda top member 36 which forms a supporting bed for the paper strip 38being fed thereover. The upper unit 14 also comprises a frame 40 havingspaced apart side members 40a and 40b (FIG. 2) which support at leastone and preferably first and secondvprinti'ng devices 42a and 42b, andcarbon strip feeding means 44 take-up means 46a and 46h for rst andsecond carbon transfer strips 47a and 47h. Thus, as the lower unit feedsthe paper strip 38 from right to left as viewed in FIG. 1, andcyclically operates the impression means hereinafter described, thedesired indicia is transferred from the printing devices 42a and 42hcarried by the upper unit by means of the carbon strips which areadvanced by the carbon strip advancing and take-up means 44 and 46a and46b of the upper unit.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the lower unit 12 more particularlyincludes a motor 50 secured to a lower portion of the frame 34 and has adrive pulley 52 connected by a belt 54 to an input pulley 56 mounted onthe rod shaft 57 of any suitable clutch mechanism 58 having a sleeveshaft 59 which supports an output sprocket 60 which is alternatelyengageable and disengageable with the continuously operated input pulley56. Preferably, though not necessarily, the clutch 58 is of theelectromagnetic type, or any suitable mechanical clutch operated by asolenoid and effective to engage or disengage the drive from the motor52 to the operating mechanism of the apparatus 10.

The clutch output sprocket 60 is connected by a chain 62 to a sprocket64 mounted on a main drive shaft 66 suitably journaled in the oppositeside frame members 34a and 34h and in an upstanding supporting plate 67.A pulley 68 mounted on shaft 66 is connected by a belt 70 to pulleys 72and 74 which respectively are mounted on shafts 76 and 78. An idlerpulley 80 adjustably mounted on the plate 67 maintains proper tension inthe belt 70. Thus when the motor 50 operates and the clutch 58 engagesthe input pulley 56 with the output sprocket 60, shafts 76 and 78 aredriven in synch-ronism. As best seen in FIG. 2, shafts 76 and 78 arejournaled in the plate 67 and the side frame member 34h, and, as seen inFIG. 3, have intermediate portions 82 and 84 respectively whichconstitute cam shafts to operate the impression devices generallyindicated as 86a and 86b respectively and more fully described below.Thus by the foregoing drive train, the motor 50 is effective to 4causeactuation of the impression devices 86a and 86b in synchronism.

Impression devices Referring now to FIG. 3, the impression devices 86aand 86b, being identical in construction and operation, each comprises agenerally box-like frame 88 through which the shafts 76 or 78 pass andin which the cam portions 82 or 84 are located. Each frame 88 supports amounting bracket 90 which in turn supports a plurality of leaf springs92 (see FIG. 4) which bear at their free ends on the underside of aU-shaped oscillating impression element hereinafter referred to as aprint hammer 94. The latter is pivotally mounted on the frame 88 as at96 and has a forwardly projecting linger 98 which is engaged by one ofthe cam portions 82 or 84 of the shafts 76 or 78 as the latter rotate inthe direction of the arrow to effect downward movement of the printhammers 94 against the tension of the leaf springs 92. Each print hammer94 is also provided with an upstanding anvil 100 which effects momentaryprinting contact between the paper strip 38, a carbon transfer strip,and type slugs generally indicated as 102a and 1021; held in printingposition by the printing devices 42a and 42h, the latter to be morefully described hereinbelow.

A combined bridge and stop plate 108 is secured between side plates ofeach frame 88 to properly space them apart and is received within theU-shaped print hammer 94. Each plate 108 is provided with a projectinglip 110 which engages a shoulder 112 formed on the upstanding portion ofthe print hammer 94 to thereby dene -an upper limiting position for theprint hammer 94. It will now be apparent that with each rotation ofshafts 76 and 78 and coresponding rotation of carn portions 82 and 84,the print hammers 94 of the impression devices 86a and 86b are pivotedin -a clockwise direction until the end of the cam portions 82 and 84ride beyond the lips 98 whereupon the springs 92 force the print hammers94 and their anvils 100 upwardly with great force and into momentaryprinting contact with the paperstrip 38 and carbon strips 47a and 47bunder the type slugs 10201 and 102]).

It will be noted from FIG. 3 that the angular relationship of the cafmportions 82 and 84 is not the same, the cam portion 82 being slightlyadvanced in the direction of rotation of the ycam portions relative tothe cam portion 84. Thus as the shafts 76 and 78 rotate together, thecam portion 82 depresses and releases the printing hammer 94 of thefirst impression device 86a in a given timed relationship before the camportion 84 releases the printing hammer 94 of the second impressiondevice 86b, thereby causing the impression devices to operatesequentially in timed relationship rather than simultaneously. It istherefore apparent that when the rst impression device 86a operates tocause the printing of the trailing numeric line F by the type slug 102:1of the first printing device 42a on a given check, the desired locationof the leading alphabetic lines E of that check will not as yet havereached the second printing device 42b. Since the strip 38 iscontinuously moving, the location on the said check of the leadingalphabetic lines E will reach the second printing device 42b at theinstant that the cam portion 84 releases the printing hammer 94 of thesecond impression device 86h for contact with the strip 38 and the typeslugs 102b, at which time the numeric line F will be disposed betweenthe two printing devices 42a and 42b. Thus by the sequential operationof the impression devices 86a and 86b coupled with continuous movementof the strip 38, the leading and trailing lines of print E and F, respectively, are caused to -appear on a given check spaced apart closer thanthe physical distance of the printing devices 42a and 42b.

Paper strip feeding mechanism The paper strip feeding mechanism which isalso incorporated in the lower unit 12, is driven by a power train whichis located on the side of the machine opposite from that on which thepower train for the impression devices is located, and commences withthe main drive shaft 66. Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the shaft 66terminates outwardly of the lower side frame member 34a and rotatablycarries a pair of pulleys 114 and 116, the pulley 114 driving a belt 118toward the front of the apparatus and which is passed around adjustablymounted tensioning idler rollers 120 and 122, and drives a pulley 124fixed on a shaft 126 which is journaled for rotation in the lower sideframe members 34a and 34h. The shaft 126 carries a sprocket 128 whichdrives a suitable pin tractor 130, the latter passing around anothersprocket 132 rotatably mounted on a bracket 134 carried Iby the shaft126 and xed on a shaft 135 carried by the side frame members 34a and3411. The shafts 126 and 135 have similar sprockets and a pin tractormounted thereon adjacent the other side of the machine as indicatedgenerally lby the numeral 136.

The other pulley 116 on the main drive shaft 66 drives a belt 138 whichin turn drives a pulley 140 (see FIG. 8) carried on a shaft 142journaled for rotation in the side frame members 34a and 34b, this shaft`and the adjacent fixed shaft 144 carrying and driving a pair ofsprockets and pin tractors identical to that described above anddisposed on oposite sides of the rear end of the machine and designatedgenerally as 146 and 148. Thus it is seen that the motor 50 is effectiveto feed the continuous paper strip 38 by means ofthe marginal pin holesD in synchronism with the successive actuations of the impressiondevices since the power for both the impression devices 86a and 86b andthe paper strip feeding mechanism is taken from the main drive shaft 66,and any deviation in the rate of operation of one mechanism will resultin a coresponding deviation in the rate of operation of the other.

Suitable paper guide devices 143 having upper and lower plates betweenwhich the strip 38 passes are provided with each pin tractor to assureproper contact between the pin tractors and the pin holes D. The guidedevices on at least one side of the machine are adjustably slidablymounted as on the shafts 145 and 147 to accommodate for different widthsup the strip 38.

Carbon strip feeding and take-up mechanism As briefly described above,the upper unit 14 supports a carbon strip transfer Imaterial feedingdevice 44 and take-up mechanism 46a and 46b. The feeding devi-ce 44comprises a gear 150 carried by the pin tractor drive shaft connected asmaller pulley 162 which drives a belt 164 connected to a pulley 166mounted on an upstanding portion of the side frame members 40a and 40b.The pulley 166 drives a pinch roller 168 journaled in the side framemembers 40a and 40h Iby means of the gears 170 and 172. Another pinchroller 174 is rotatably mounted on -brackets 176 which are pivotallysuported on frame members 40a yand 40h at 178, and urged toward thepinch roller 168 by springs 180 whereby the roller 174 is maintained infrictional feeding engagement with the roller 168.

As noted above, there are separate carbon transfer strips 47a and 47b,one for each of the printing devices 42a and 42b. One of the carbonstrips 47a is stored on a supply roll 182 rotatably supported bybrackets 184 secured to the frame members 34a and 3417 adjacent thefront end of the machine. The carbon strip passes from the supply roll182 over the bed 36 of the lower unit 12 in overlying relationship tothe paper strip 38, under guide rollers 186 and 188 and thence upwardlybetween the pinch rollers 168 and 174. The carbon strip 47a, beingassociated `with the printing device 42a which prints the trailingnumeric line F on the checks A, preferably though not necessarilycarries ink of the magnetic ink character recognition type which issensible by well known automated document sorting machines.

The other strip 47b is provided on a supply roll 190 supported onbrackets 192 mounted on the side frame members 40a and 40h of the upperunit 14 and located at the back end of the machine. The strip passesover the bed 36 of the lower unit in overlying relationship with thepaper stripI 38, under guide rollers 194 and 196 and thence upwardlybetween the pinch rollers 168 and 174 so that both carbon transferstrips will advance simultaneously by the pinch rollers 168 and 174.Each strip 47d and 47b is taken up on identical take-up mechanism 46aand 4Gb respectively which comprise take up spools 198 and 200, eachspool being driven by Va separate stall torque motor 202 and 204, themotors being conveniently mounted on the frame member 40b and eachhaving driving gears 206 and 208 respectively which mesh with gears 210and 212 provided on the take-up spools 198 and 200.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the carbon transfer strip feedingmechanism 44 is also driven by the moto-r 50 and in synchronism with theactuation of the impression devices and the feeding of the paper strip38, since the power train for the carbon strip feeding mechanism 44 istaken directly off the same driving shaft 142 which drives the rearstripfeeding mechanisms 146 and 148. The motors 202 and 204 are of thetype Which are constantly energized and exert a continuous pull on thecarbon strips as they are fed by the pinch rollers. The carbon stripsare fed at a much slower rate of speed than is the paper strip 38 byvirtue of the speed reduction between the -gears and 172, since thecarbon strips need only be fed a small increment each time a print cycletakes place.

Printing devices The printing devices 42a and 42b which are carried bythe upper unit 14 in overlying relationship with the carbon transferstrips and the paper strip 38, are identical in construction andoperation, and accordingly only one need be described in detail.Although two are included in the form of the apparatus shown, it shouldbe understood that only one or any number desired may be utilized withthis apparatus, and they may be put into operation selectively inaccordance with the information desired to be imprinted on the items ofthe strip 38.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4-7, the printing device 42b, consideredfor the purpose of description, comprises a rotatably mounted `chasecarrier 213b which holds and carries a plurality of peripherallydisposed type slugs 102b which in the embodiment illustrated comprisestwo oppositely disposed sets of slugs which are alternately movablebetween a printing position and an accessible posizion, each chasecarrier being rotated in timed sequence with the stopping and startingof the stripl 38 by means hereinafter more fully described. The chasecarrier 2131) :omprises an elongated block 214 (see FIG. rotatablymounted on a shaft 216, the latter being fiXedly but adiustablysupported by the opposite side frame members 40a and 4Gb as seen in FIG.4. The block 214 is hollowed out at diagonally opposite corners to formtype slug receiving and positioning recesses 217 and 218, each having afixed positioning wall 21751 and 218er acting in cooperation withclamping bars 228 and 222 movably disposed in the recesses 217 and 218to alternately clamp and release one or a plurality of type slugs 102b,each type slug having a body portion 224 with raised type faces 226formed thereon. The clamping bars 220 and 222, in cooperation with theblock 214 constitute a chase or slug holder.

There are two clamping bars 220 for the upper set of type slugs, and twoclamping bars 222 for the lower set, and each individual clamping bar220 or 222 is mova'bly carried within clamping and releasing limitpositions by a pair of bolts 228 slidingly received in recesses 230provided in a plurality of upper and lower stop blocks 232 and 233respectively which in turn are fixedly secured to the chase carrierblock 214 by means of bolts 234. Thus the pairs of clamping bars 220 or222 are movable between the clamping position illustrated in FIG. 5 andan open position in which the outer face of the pairs of clamping blocks220 or 222 abut the inner face of the stop blocks 232 or 233respectively. A spring 236 mounted on each of the bolts 228 urges theclamping bars toward the release position. The inward extent of movementof the clamping bars toward the clamping position may be adjusted byrotation of the bolts 228 in order to securely clamp 1, 2 or 3 typeslugs 224 in the chase.

The pairs of clamp-ing bars 220 and 222 are moved between theaforementioned limit positions by means of corresponding pairs of quickrelease, preferably snap acting, latch mechanisms 238 and 239, which areidentical, each mechanism comprising a lever 240 having one endpivotally mounted at 242 on a bracket 244 secured to the block 214, thelever 24) also being pivotally connected at 246 to one end of anoperating lever 248 which itself is pivotally connected at 250 to a link252, the latter being pivotally connected at 254 to the bracket 244remote from the pivotal connection 242 of the lever 24() to the bracket244, thus forming a toggle clamp. The pivot points 246, 250 and 254 aredisposed in out of line relationship such that movement of operatinglever 248 by the handle 256 from the full line position of FIG. 5 to thedotted line position of FIG. 5 pulls the pivot point 250 over deadcenter between the pivots 246 and 254 to release the toggle and move thelever 240 from its full line position to its dotted line position, thusreleasing the clamping bars 220 for movement outwardly in response tothe springs 236 on the bolts 228. When the handle 256 is returned to itsfull line position, the pivot point 250 is again snapped over center andthe lever 246 is forced against a threaded post 258 connected to theclamping block 220 and held in position by a lock nut 260 in order toagain move the clamping bar 220 to securing position. As seen in FIG. 4,identical upper toggle clamps 238 are provided for each of the clampingbars 220, and identical lower toggle clamps 239 are provided for each ofthe lower clamping bars 222, with the handles 256 connecting the toggleclamps of each pair 238 or 239 for simultaneous operation. Theconstruction and arrangement of the clamps 238 and 239 is such that thehandle, and other parts of each clamp, is similarly oriented and movablein the same direction relative to the body 214 when the chase carrier isrotated to alternately move the chases to the exposed position forremoval'of the slugs.

It is apparent from the foregoing that while the lower type slugs 224are in printing position, and the machine is in operation and printingis taking place, the upper type slugs 224 are in an accessible positionand may be manually removed and changed for other type slugs bearingdifferent type face indicia 226 by manipulation of the handle 256 of thepair of upper toggle clamps 238. This is an important feature of thepresent invention since it permits the printing elements of theapparatus to be changed in a simple and efficient manner from thespeciiic indicia required for one customer which has been printed tothat required for another customer which is yet to be printed and whilethe machine is printing the indicia required for still another customer,so that when the printing of the predetermined number of items for anygiven customer has been completed, the only down time required betweenthe printing of indicia of different customers is that required torotate the printing devices 42a and 42b through the half revolutionnecessary to place the new type slugs in printing position and disposethe type slugs from which printing has just been completed in theaccessible position for replacement by the operator of the apparatus.The printing device rotation is accomplished in a very short period oftime by the mechanism now to be described.

Means are provided for locking the chase carriers 21311 and 21311 in afixed position during the printing portion of a machine cycle, and forreleasing them for rotation upon completion of the printing portion ofthe machine cycle, providing the change-over of type slugs has beencompleted. The following structure is identical for both chase carriers,and reference will be now made to chase carrier 21317 illustrated inFIGS. 2, 4, and 6, wherein it is seen that a combined lock and cam disk260 is suitably secured to the block 214 of each chase carrier forrotation therewith, the disk having a pair of oppositely disposed stoppositions in the form of depressions 262 and 264 to alternately receivea detent 266 mounted on the end of a dog 268 forming a locking memberand pivoted at 270 to a bracket 272 xedly carried by the shaft 216. Whenthe chase carrier is stationary with one set of type slugs in printingposition and the other set in the accessible position, the detent 266 isreceived within one of the recesses 262 or 264, preferably the upper oneas illustrated, to lock the chase carrier against movement. The dog 268is rotated in a clockwise direction to withdraw the detent 266 from therecesses 262 by means of downward movement of the armature 274 of asolenoid 276 suitably secured to the bracket 272, the armature 274 beingconnected to the dog 268 by a pin 275. The solenoid is actuated byappropriate electrical cornponents to be hereinafter more fullydescribed.

Upon release of the cam disk 260 by the dog 268, the chase carrier isrotated preferably, though not necessarily, by any suitable continuouslyenergized source of rotative force applied to the chase carrier, such asthe electric stall torque motor 278 suitably mounted on a bracket 280secured to the upper side frame member 40a, the motor having a drivinggear 282 which meshes with a driven gear 284 Xedly connected to theblock 214 of the chase carrier as by screws 286. A collar 288 iiXedlysecured to the shaft 216 acts in cooperation with the bracket 272 toproperly locate the chase carrier on the shaft 216 and prevent anyshifting movement thereof.

It is now apparent that when the detent 266 is raised out of the recess262, the motor 278 will then be effective to rotate the chase carrierwhereupon the detent 266 will drop into the recess 264 since, by thistime, the solenoid 276 will have been de-energized and the armature 274thereof is spring biased to urge the dog 268 in a counterclockwisedirection. The solenoid 276 is actuated each time the printing of apredetermined number of checks for a given customer is completed so thata half turn of the chase carrier is cyclically effected automatically atthe termination of each printing run.

Provision is also made for adjusting the stationary position of thechase carriers 213:1 and 213b so that the type faces 226 of the typeslugs 102a and 102b are positioned directly over the anvils 100 of eachimpression device 86a and 86b, and are in absolute parallel planarjuxtaposition from the top to the bottom of each type character with thepaper strip 38 so that the impression of each character is uniform fromtop to bottom thereof. This adjustment is effected through minuteadjustment of the angular position of the shafts 216g and 216b to whichthe chase carriers are locked when they are stationary. The shafts 216aand 216b are adjusted by the adjustment means 289a and 289'b illustratedin FIGS. 1 and 2, both being identical, and the adjustment means 289bbeing illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 7. This means comprises a stub shaft290 connected to the shaft 216 by means of the set screw 292, the stubshaft being rotatably supported on the side frame member 40h andextending outwardly thereof far enough to xedly receive a collar 294having an upstanding boss 296. A pair of brackets 298 secured to theouter face of the side frame member 40b threadedly receive lockingscrews 300 which engage opposite sides of the boss 296. It is apparentthat similar directional rotation of the screws 300 will angularly shiftthe boss 296, and consequently rotate the stub shaft 290 and the shaft216 clockwise or counterclockwise by a small amount depending upon thedirection of rotation of the screws 300, thus aifording a virtualmicrometer control over the position of the shaft 216. After appropriateadjustment is made the screws 300 are tightened to securely hold thestub shaft 290, the shaft 216 and the chase carrier in the selectedposition.

Electric control components and circuitry FIG. 9 illustratesdiagrammatically the electrical components and circuitry necessary forthe operation of the apparatus in connection with the consecutiveprinting of a plurality of groups of personalized items with apredetermined number of items for each group. Thus there is provided aAsuitable source of power 302 which is connected through a main olf-onswitch 304 with leads 306 and 308 to supply current to the severalactuating and control components of the apparatus. A pair of leads 310and 312 provide a circuit to the chase carrier operating motors 278a and278b, which are connected in parallel by the leads 314 and 316. Anotherpair of leads 318 and 320 provide a circuit to the carbon strip takeupmotors 202 and 204 which are also connected in parallel by the leads 322and 324. Thus the chase carrier rotating motors 278a and 278b and thecarbon strip takeup motors 202 and 204 are continuously energized oncethe main switch 304 is closed, but because they are stall torque motorsthey are operable only when the resistance to movement placed upon themis less than the rotative force put out by the motors. v

The main drive motor S is continuously .energized by leads 326 and 328connected respectively to leads 306 and 308, and is effective throughthe electromagnetic clutch 58 to drive the main shaft 66 asdiagrammatically indicated by the broken line 66', the shaft 66 in turndriving the impression device actuating shafts 76 and 78 respectively bythe power train diagrammatically indicated by the lines 76 and 78. Itwill be recalled vthat the shaft 66 is also eifective to drive theforward and rear paper feed shafts 126 and 142 respectively by the powertrain indicated diagrammatically by the lines 126 and 142. The operationof the shaft 66 and the mechanisms connected thereto are controlled byengagement or disengagement of the motor 50 through the clutch 58.

The apparatus is provided with a counter mechanism generally indicatedby the numeral 330 which may be either of the descending or ascendingtotalizer type, and `which is effective, when preset, to count theprinting actuations of the apparatus and to stop the operation thereofwhen a predetermined number is reached. The counter is provided withmechanism for initiating an electrical impulse to actuate the solenoid276 of each printing device in order to permit rotation thereof when theprinting oper- 10 ation stops, and, for safety purposes, provision ismade for manually disabling the counter initiated impulse and hence thesolenoid 276 so that the chase carriers cannot rotate in the event thatfor some reason the operator has not completed the change-over from oneset of type slugs to another during the printing portion of a machinecycle.

The counter 330 is also automatically reset to its starting position inresponse to a signal initiated by rotation of the chase carrierswhereupon the counter is effective to reestablish the circuit to theclutch 58 to again commence operation of the apparatus.

More specifically, the counter 330 is provided with conventionalindicating wheels 331 which indicate initially the number of checks ineach group to be printed and which descend to zero in response to theconsecutive printing of a predetermined number of checks, or which startat zero and indicate the number of checks printed, depending uponwhether the counter is of the descending or ascending type. The counteris provided with conventional mechanism generally indicated at 333 inFIG. 1 for establishing a predetermined number of actuations it willpermit before stopping the printing apparatus. An actuating mechanism332 is illustrated diagrammatically and is responsive to signals fromdifferent sources to sequentially step the counter in units in responseto a signal from one source, and also to reset the counter to itsstarting position in response to a signal from another source, both in amanner well known in the counter art and therefore not requisite offurther description herein.

The former function is accomplished by a counter stepping mechanismindicated diagrammatically by the resistance 336 and is part of thecounter actuating mechanism 332. A lead 334 connects the steppingmechanism 336 to the lead 308, and a -lead 338 connects the steppingmechanism 336 to a normally open microswitch 340 mounted on the framemember 34b (see FIG. 4), adjacent the shaft 78. A lead 342 connects themicroswitch 340 to the lead 306 to complete a circuit through thestepping mechanism 336 when the microswitch 340 is closed. This isaccomplished by a cam 344 carried by the shaft 78 and having a lobe 346which momentarily closes the microswitch 340 each time the shaft 78makes one revolution.

The counter 330 is also provided with a double acting switch 348 whichis koperated by conventional counter mechanism indicateddiagrammatically as 350. The switch 348, when the blade is in the upperposition as shown is in a circuit consisting of the lead 308, a lead 352which connects with a normally closed safety microswitch 354a a lead 356which connects the microswitch 354a in `series with another safetymicroswitch 354b, a lead 360 connected to the` solenoid 362 or othersuitable electromagnetic component of the clutch 58, and a lead 364which compensates the circuit to the lead 306. While the safety switchesare illustrated diagrammatically as being actuated by the armatures ofthe solenoids 27611 and 276b, they are preferably mounted on thebrackets 27211 and 272b (FIG. 2) and operated directly by theoscillatory movements of the dogs 268a and 268b of each chase carrier asbest seen in FIGS. 4 and 6. It is apparent that as long as the switch348 is in this circuit and the two safety switches 354a and 354b areclosed, the clutch solenoid 362 is energized to effect a drivingconnection from the motor 50 to the main drive shaft 66. When thestepping mechanism 336 causes the counter to reach its terminalposition, Whether in ascending or descending order, the mechanism 350alters the position of the blade of the switch 348 thereby breaking thecircuit to the solenoid of the clutch 58 and stopping operation of themac me.

The chase carriers are freed for rotation by the chase motors 278a and278b by means of solenoids 276a and 276b, the armatures 274a and 274b ofwhich, it will be recalled from above, are connected respectively to thelocking dogs 268a and 26812. The solenoids 276a and 276b are connectedin parallel in a circuit comprising a lead 366 connected to a normallyopen safety switch 367 which l l is closed upon de-energization of theclutch solenoid 362, the switch 367 being connected by a lead 369 to thelead 306. The lead 366 is connected to one side of the solenoid 27651and a lead 372 connects the solenoid 276:1 to

a lead 374. A lead 376 connects the lead 366 to one side of the othersolenoid 276b, the other side of which is also connected to the lead374. The latter is connected, through a manually operable switch 375, tothe double acting switch 348 in position to have the blade thereofcomplete a circuit to lead 308 through the solenoids 276e and 276b whenthe mechanism 350 moves the blade of switch 348 at the completion of theprinting portion of a machine cycle. It will be recalled that suchmovement of the blade also de-energizes the clutch solenoid 362 which inturn closes the safety switch 367 which is in the just described circuitto solenoids 27 6a and 27 6b.

It will now be seen that movement of the blade of switch 348 initiatesan actuating impulse to energize the solenoids 276a and 27611 therebyactuating the dogs 268:1 and 268b to free the chase carriers forrotation as described above, assuming that the manual switch 375 isclosed. This switch is a safety feature, under the control of theoperator, which disables the actuating impulse from the counter to thesolenoids 276:1 and 276b in the event that the operator has notcompleted the slug replacement when the counter reaches its terminalposition and the apparatus stops printing. The operator opens thisswitch while changing slugs and closes it when the slugs have beenchanged and the chases locked.

At least one, though preferably both, of the chase carriers iseffective, after a predetermined amount of rotation, to close a circuitto the counter in order to reset it to its starting position. Asillustrated, each chase carrier is provided with diametrically opposedcam lobes 378 which, although illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 8 asbeing on the periphery of the disks 260a and 260b, are actually located,as seen in FIG. 6, on the outer flat face of the disk 260. Anappropriate recess 380 is formed in the bracket 272 to permit the camlobes 278 to pass therethrough.

Referring to the rearward chase carrier 21312, and FIGS. 2, 6 and 8, yanormally open microswitch 382b is suitably mounted on the bracket 272-adjacent the disk 260 in position to be actuated by one of the camlobes 378 each time the chase carrier rotates through one half turn. Theswitch 382b is in a circuit comprising a lead 383 connected to the mainlead 306 land a lead 385 connecting the switch 382b to -a conventionalcounter resetting device indicated diagrammatically by the resistance386 in the actuating mechanism 332. A lead 388 connected to the lead 308completes the circuit through the resetting device 386 when the switch3821; is closed. The switch 382a is connected in parallel with theswitch 38217 to the resetting device 386 by the leads 306 and 384. Thusthe counter 330 is reset to its starting position each time either of hechase carriers, in case only one is being utilized for printing, or bothrotate one half turn to change the position of the type slugs prior tothe commencement of a new printing run.

Operation predetermined number, and the safety switch 367 is closedsince the clut-ch solenoid 362 is de-energized, the apparatus is readyto commence operation. The operator closes the safety switch 375 whichcloses the parallel circuits through the solenoids 276:1 and 27 6b foreach printing device whereupon the dogs 268a and 26811 are rotated torelease the chase carriers -for rotation by the motors 27811 and 278b.Simultaneously with the movement of the dogs 268a and 268b, the normallyclosed microswitches 354a and 354b are opened so that the clutch 58 isrendered inoperable until the chase carriers have completed theirrotation `and have been locked in the new printing position by the dogs268a and 268b.

As the chase carriers rotate, the advancing cam lobe 378 momentarilycloses the switches 382a and 382b to energize the counter resettingdevice 386 to set the counter mechanism to its starting position andalso to move the blade of the switch 348 by virtue of the mechanism 350to its upper position. As indicated above, this movement of the bladedoes not start the operation of the apparatus until the safety switches35411 and 354b are closed upon completion of rotation of the chasecarriers.

When the latter event occurs, the circuit is closed through the clutchsolenoid 362 whereby the clutch 58 engages the drive shaft 66 with themotor 50 to commence simultaneous operation of the pin feed shafts 126and 142, the impression device actuating shafts 76 and 78, and thecarbon transfer strip feed mechanism 44 all in the manner describedabove. At the same time, the safety switch 367 is opened by the clutchsolenoid to render the chase carrier solenoids inoperable during theprinting operation in the event of some malfunction of the counter 330.As the impression device actuating shafts 76 and 78 are rotated insynchronism with the pin feed shafts 126 and 142, the impression devices86a and 86b are actuated by the cam portions 82 and 84 to causemomentary printing contact between the type faces 226 of the slugs 224with the continuously moving strip 38 through the carbon transferstrips. The feed of the strip is so synchronized with the operation ofthe impression devices 86a and 86b that the lines of print effected byeach of the printing devices appear in a prescribed or predeterminedlocation on each item being printed.

Since the cam shaft portion 82 of the impression device 86a isangular-ly advanced in relation to the cam shaft portion 84 of theimpression device 861:, the printing of the trailing numeric line F iseffected by the printing device 42a on a given check A, and, after ashort interval of time during which the strip 38 continues to move, theprinting of the advanced alphabetic lines E is effected by the printingdevice 42h when the cam portion 84 actuates the impression device 86h.At this moment the printing of a given check on the strip is completed,while the printing of the next succeeding check on the strip has not yetcommenced since the desired location of the trailing numeric line F ofsuch next succeeding check has not yet reached type slug 102a of theprinting device 42a.

Since it is the operation of the second impression device 86b whichdetermines the completion of printing of an individual check, it isdesirably the actuation of this impression device which causes steppingof the counter 330 and ultimate determination of the completion ofprinting of a predetermined number of checks for a group, so that whenthe apparatus stops, a preceding check is fully printed and the nextsucceeding check is completely unprinted, thereby eliminating wastage ofchecks when changing from the indicia of one group to that of another.Accordingly each time the actuating shaft 78 of the impression device86b rotates, the microswitch 340 is momentarily closed by the cam 344 toactuate the counter stepping device 336 to advance the counter one unitt0- wards its terminal position. When this position is reached and thepredetermined number `of checks has been printed, the mechanism 350 iseffective to again move the blade of the switch 348 to its lowerposition in circuit with the lead 374 whereupon the solenoid 362 isde-energized and the clutch 58 disengages the motor 50 from the driveshaft 66, thereby stopping the printing operation of the apparatus.

While the apparatus was in printing operation, and commencing with thecompletion of rotation of the chase carriers, the operator changed thetype slugs 102a and 102b disposed in the accessible position in eachchase carrier by rst opening the safety switch 375 land then opening thetoggle clamps 238:1 and 238b of each chase carrier, and either initiallyinserting appropriate type slugs for the next group of checks to beprinted if the printing of a first group of checks has just beencommenced, or by removing the type slugs from which printing has justbeen completed and inserting a new set of type slugs in each chasecarrier if one or more groups of checks has previously been printed.Upon completion of the initial insertion or change-over of type slugs,as the case may be, the operator closes the toggle clamps and thencloses the safety switch 375. Inadvertent or accidental energization ofsolenoids 276a and 276b through malfunction of the counter 330 isprevented since the safety switch 367 is open as long as the clutchsolenoid 362 remains energized. When the current printing is completed,and if the operator has completed the change-over of type slugs and hasclosed the switch 375, the clutch solenoid 362 closes the switch 367 tocomplete a circuit through the counter switch 348 and the solenoids 276sand 276b to cause the chase carriers to be freed for rotation andcommence another cycle of machine operation. This is fully automaticoperation. If the operator leaves the switch 375 open after completionof the type slug change-over, the apparauts is then semi-automatic,requiring a manual restart by momentarily closing switch 375 until thechase carriers have rotated to a new printing position.

Additional features and modifications The apparatus is provided withmeans for varying the timed relationship of the sequential operation lofthe impression devices by adjusting the relative angular positions ofthe cam portions 82 and 84 without altering the rate of operation of theshaft 66 and hence the speed of the strip feeding mechanism, so that thespacing between the alphabetic and numeric lines of print on a check ofa given size may be altered in order to vary the format of the check.This is accomplished as best seen in FIG. 2, by means of collars 390 and392 which are releasa-bly secured to the shafts 76 and 78, the collars390 Iand 392 being fixed to the pulleys 72 and 74 respectively, with thelatter being otherwise unconnected to the shafts 76 and 78. By looseningeither the collar 390 or 392 or both, the shaft 76 or 78 or both may beindependently rotated as by the handle wheels 394 and 396 fixed on theshafts 76 and 78 respectively. Thus any desired `angular relationship ofthe cam portions 82 and 84 may be set, after which the collars 390 or392 are again secured to their respective shafts to re-establish adriving connection to the pulleys 72 or 74 or both as the case may be.It is apparent that any alteration in the angular relationship lof thecam portions 82 and 84 will alter the timed relationship of thelactuation of the impression devices 86a and 861) .and thereby thespacing between the alphabetic and numeric lines of print, assuming ofcourse that the strip 38 continues to advance at a constant rate ofspeed.

Provision is also made for changing the spacing between the alphabeticand numeric lines of print in proportion to a corresponding change inthe size of the individual checks measured along the longitudinal axisof the strip of checks. This is accomplished by changing the linearspeed of the strip as it advances through the printing apparatus withoutchanging the rate of rotation of the shaft 66 or actuating cam portions82 and 84 of the impression devices 86a and 86h. As best seen in FIG. 2,the main drive shaft 66 is provided with a removably end fitting 398such as a small ywheel or the like which holds the drive pulleys 114 and116 on the shaft 66. These pulleys are removably mounted on the shaft 66and are drivingly connected to the shaft by any suitable means such as aslot and key arrangement. By removing the iitting 398,

pulleys 114 and 116 of .a given diameter may be removed and otherpulleys of a different diameter substituted therefor, with appropriateadjustment of the adjustable idler pulleys and 139A being made to keepthe belts 118 and 138 taut. It is therefore apparent that if drivepulleys 114 and 116 `are removed and other pulleys of twice the diameterare substituted therefor, the paper strip 38 will be driven by the pintractors at twice the linear rate of speed without eifecting the rate ofactuation of the impression devices 86a and 86b. If the pulleys 114 and116, therefore, are effective to properly space the alphabetic andnumeric lines of print on a conventional three inch high check, theforegoing substitution of drive pulleys would produce a check having thesame lines of print positioned in the same relative locations on adocument six inches in height. It should be understood that othermechanical speed change arrangements may be used in lieu of theremovable pulleys illustrated and described.

In some situations it may be desirable to print checks or othercommercial documents with personalized indicia requiring only one lineof print, such as a customers name with no identification numbers, orthe latter with no alphabetic identification. In this case, it isnecessary to utilize only one of the printing devices 42a or 42b, .andin the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the printing device 42bwould be utilized since only the impression dcvice 861) has beenprovided with the timer actuating switch 340 as illustrated in FIG. 9 tostep the time in accordance with the number of items printed. Theimpression device 86a can be rendered inoperative by loosening thecollar 390 so that the pulley 72 is inoperative to drive the shaft 76 ofthe impression device 86a. The carbon strip 4711 will be either ofconventional ink or magnetic ink as necessary. The operation of theapparatus in this manner is identical with that described above with theexception that the printing device 42a is inoperative, at least duringthe printing part of the cycle.

It is apparent from the foregoing description and the accompanyingdrawings that there has been provided a multiple item printing apparatuswhich achieves the foregoing objects, and attains a degree ofversatility not heretofore possible by incorporating through novelstructure and arrangement of parts the advantages and desirable featuresof previously known printing apparatus. The present apparatus isadaptable to print individual indicia on checks and like commercialdocuments with either one or more lines of alphabetic indicia alone inconventional ink, or one or 4more lines (generally only one is required)of numeric indicia alone in magnetic ink recognition character ink, orboth. The length of a line of indicia, that is the number of individualcharacters in the line, is limited only by the basic size of the chasesin the chase carrier, and these may be made longer than illustrated inthe drawings should the need for longer lines of print arise. Also, thechases may be enlarged to accommodate four or five slugs at the sametime, with appropriate modification of the impression devices, so thatmore than one name with an address may be printed on separate lines ifdesired.

It should be understood that the chase carriers may be mounted on theirsupporting shafts in any desired position laterally of the printingstrip in order to dispose the chases out of alignment with each otherrather than in alignment as illustrated in FIG. 2. This would facilitateoffsetting the lines -of indicia printed by one of the printing devicesfrom those of the other printing device more than the amount permittedby merely shifting the location of type slugs within the limits of thechases as is contemplated by the embodiment of the apparatus disclosed.

FIG. 11 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a chase carrier havinga mechanical locking feature which prevents rotation of the chasecarrier if the toggle clamp for locking the type slugs in the chase isnot fully closed. Specitically, a support 400 suitably secured to theblock 214 pivotally carries a rocking lever 402 which is pivotallyconnected at one end 404 to a bar 406 slidably received in a bore 408.and urged outwardly thereof by a compression spring 410. The lever 402is pivotally connected at its other end 412 to a pin 414 which isslidably carried in another bore 416 and which mates with a bore 41Sformed in the shaft 216 when the chase carrier is in its fixed printingposition. The outer end of the bar 406 is positioned to be engaged bythe bottom of the toggle operating lever 248 to depress the bar 406 `andwithdraw the pin 414 from the bore 416 when the toggle clamp is fullyclosed. Unless and until the operator fully closes the toggle clamp, thepin 414, being in the bore 416, prevents rotation of the chase carrieron the shaft 216 even if the solenoids 276a and 2761) are energized.Thus there is no possibility that a chase carrier can rotate to bringimproperly locked type slugs to the printing position, an occurrencewhich could result in serious damage to the apparatus.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the form ofapparatus herein described and illustrated, which is deemed to beprimarily illustrative of the principles of the invention and which issusceptible to modication of form, size, detail and arrangement ofparts, but rather is intended to cover all such modifications andequivalents as may be deemed to be within the scope of the appendedclaims.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for printing a plurality of groups of items, each havingindicia common to all the groups, with individual indicia of a differentkind for each group and in predetermined quantities for each group, saiditems being joined to form a continuous strip, said apparatus comprisingmeans for feeding a strip past a printing station, a chase carrierdisposed at said printing station, a plural-ity of stationaryperipherally disposed chases on said chase carrier for removably holdinginterchangeable printing elements, means for rotatably supporting andholding said chase carrier to transfer said chases alternately between aprinting position in which said printing elements are immovably held forprinting and a non-printing position in which a chase is accessible toan operator for manual removal of the printing elements therefrom,reciprocable :impression means at said printing station for causingmomentary printing contact between said strip and said stationaryprinting elements disposed at said prin-ting position to causesuccessive printing on a predetermined number of items of one group withindicia individual to said one group, and means for synchronizing thespeed of operation of said impression means with said feeding means tocause the printing of said indicia individual to said one group to be inpredetermined relation with said common indicia as said items are`successively fed past said printing station by said feeding means 2.Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein there are means for rotatingsaid chase carrier to dispose different printing elements at saidprinting station, said means including means for interrupting theoperation of said impression means and said feeding means while saidchase is being rotated.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means forsynchronizing the speed of operation of said impression means includesmeans for adjusting the speed of operation of said impression meansindependently of the speed of operation of said feeding means so as toprint said individual indicia in predetermined relation with the commonindicia on items of different physical size in the direction of feedingof the strip.

4. Apparatus for printing a plurality of groups of items, each havingindicia common to all the groups, with individual indicia of a differentkind for each group and in predetermined quantities for each group, saiditems being joined to form a. continuous strip, said apparatuscomprising (A) means for feeding a strip past a printing station,

(B) a printing device disposed at said printing station and having meansfor holding a plurality of spaced apart printing elements,

(C) means movably `supporting said printing device in position toalternately dispose a printing element -in a printing position andanother printing element in a non-printing position where it isaccessible to an operator,

(D) means for causing successive printing contact between Said `stripand the printing element disposed at said printing position to therebyperform successive printing operations on said strip in synchronism withthe arrival at said printing station of successive items on said strip,and

(E) control means operable upon completion of a predetermined number ofsaid successive printing operaj tions for sequentially interruptingoperation 'of said feeding means and said printing Contact means, Amov`ing said printing device to dispose a different printing element in saidprinting position, and resuming operation of said feeding means and saidprinting contact means upon completion of movement of said printingdevice to cause printing of another predetermined number of items onsaid strip.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said control meanscomprises settable means for predetermining a variable number of saidsuccessive printing operations, and means responsive to movement of saidprinting device for resetting said settable means to cause the samenurnber of successive printing operations to Vtake place as differentprinting elements are successively moved to said printing position.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said control meanscomprises settable means for predetermining a variable number of saidsuccessive printing operations, first means responsive to operation ofsaid settable means when said predetermined number of said successiveprinting operations has taken place for interrupting operation of saidfeeding means and said printing contact means, second means responsiveto operation of said settable means when said predetermined number ofsaid successive printing operations has taken place for moving saidprinting device to move another of said printing elements to saidprinting station, and means responsive to said movement of said printingdevice for resetting said settable means whereupon said first means isrendered operable to resume operation of said feeding means and saidprinting contact means.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim `6 wherein said control meansincludes means interconnecting said printing contact means and saidsettable means for causing the latter to actuate said rst means inresponse to a predetermined number of successive printing operations ofsaid printing contact means.

8. Apparatus for printing a plurality of groups of items, each havingindicia common to all the groups, with individual indicia of a differentkind for each group and in predetermined quantities for each group, saiditems vbeing joined to form a continuous strip, said apparatuscomprislng (A) means for feeding a strip past a printing station,

(B) a chase carrier disposed at said printing station,

(C) a plurality of peripherally disposed chases on said chase carrierfor removably holding interchangeable printing elements,

(D) means for rotatably supporting an-d holding said chase carrier totransfer said chases alternately between a printing position and anon-printing position in which a chase is accessible to an operator formanual removal of the printing elements therefrom,

(E) impression means at said printing station 'for causing momentaryprinting contact between said strip and the .printing elements disposedat said printing POSQIL i() thereby perform successive printingoperations on said strip in synchronism with the arrivalat said printingstation of successive items on said strip, and

(F) control means operable upon completion of a predetermined number ofsaid successive printing operations for sequentially interruptingoperation of said feeding means and said impression means, rotating saidchase carrier to dispose different printing elements in said printingposition, and resuming operation of said feeding means and saidimpression means upon completion of rotation of said chase carrier tocause printing of another predetermined number of items on said strip.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said control meanscomprises means -for rotating said chase carrier, power means forcausing operation of said feeding means and said impression means tocause printing consecutively, from the printing `elements held by onechase in said printing position, of a predetermined number of items ofone 'group with indicia individual to said one group in predetermined4relation with said common indicia, means operable upon inactivation ofsaid power means for actuating said chase carrier rotating means,whereby one chase is moved away from the printing position toward theaccessible non-printing position, and another chase is moved to theprinting position, and settable means for predetermining the number ofitems of said one group to be printed, said settable means having meansresponsive to operation of said impression means for inactivating saidpower means after a predetermined number of items lof one group has beenprinted from the printing elements held by said one chase and Iforthereafter causing operation of said means for actuating said chasecarrier rotating means.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said settable meansfurther includes means responsive to rotation of said chase carrier forresetting said settable means and for reactivating said power means tocause printing, from the printing elements held by said other chase, ofa predetermined number of items of another [group with indiciaindividual to another group.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 in which the settable means ismanually adjustable to determine the number of items to be printed.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said means for actuatingsaid chase carrier rotating means includes releasable locking means `forpreventing rotation of said chase carrier while said power means isactivated, means responsive to activation of said power means forpreventin-g release of said locking means while said power means isactivated, and means for releasing said locking means only when saidpower means is inactivated by said settable means whereby said chasecarrier is freed for rotation by said rotating means only when saidpredetermined number of items has been printed.

13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said chase carrierrotating means comprises a continuously energized source of rotativeforce applied to said chase carrier, and said means for actuating saidchase carrier rotating means comprises an element secured to said chasecarrier for rotation therewith and having stop means for each chase, amovable locking member connected to said supporting means and normallyurged into engagement with one of said stop means to lock said chasecarrier to said supporting means, means for momentarily moving saidlocking member out of engagement with said one stop means to-permit saidchase ycarrier to rotate in response to said rotative force to changethe positions of said chases, said last named means being effective topermit said locking member to be -urge'd into engagement with saidelement as the latter rotates with said chase carrier whereby saidlocking member moves into engagement with another of said stop meansafter said chase carrier has rotated to move another of said chases tosaid printing position, and means responsive to activation of said powermeans for preventing operation of said locking member moving means whilesaid power means 1s activated whereby said chase carrier is freed forrotation by said force only when said predetermined number of items hasbeen printed.

14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 ifurther including selectivelymanually operable means for disabling said settable means from causingoperation of said means for actuating said chase carrier whereby, whensaid power means is inactivated by said settable means upon completionof printing of said predetermined number of items, said chase carriermay be prevented from rotating in the event that the removal andreplacement of printing elements has not been complete-d when said powermeans is inactivated by said settable means.

15. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 further including meansinterconnected between said chase carrier and said power means lfordelaying the activation of said power means until said chase carrier hascompleted a chase transfer movement.

16. Apparatus for printing a plurality of groups of items, each havingindicia common to all the groups, with individual indicia of a differentkind for each group and in predetermined quantities for each group, saiditems -being joined to form a continuous strip, said apparatusicomprising (A) means for feeding a strip past a printing station,

(B) a printing device disposed at said printing station and having meansfor holding a plurality of spaced apart printing elements,

(C) a shaft rotatably uspporting and holding said printing device,

(D) means for rotating said printing device to alternately dispose aprinting element in a printing position and another printing element ina non-printing position where it is accessible to an operator,

(E) means for causing successive printing contact between said strip andthe printing element disposed at said printing position to therebyperform successive printing operations on said strip in synchronism withthe arrival at said printing station of successve items on said strip,

('F) means for releasably locking said printing device to said shaftwith one of said printing elements in said printing position, and

(G) means rotatably supporting said shaft, said means includingadjustable locking means connected to said shaft for locking the shaftin different -angular positions while said printing device is lock/ed tosaid shaft whereby said printing device may be angularly adjusted todispose the type face of a printing element held in said printingposition in precise parallel planar juxtaposed relationship with saidstrip.

17. Apparatus for printing a plurality of groups of items, each havingindicia common to all the groups, with individual indicia of a differentkind for each group and in predetermined quantities for each group, saiditems being joined to form a continuous strip, said apparatus comprising(A) means for feeding a strip past a printing station,

(B) a chase carrier disposed at said printing station,

(C) a plurality of peripherally disposed chases on said chase carrierfor holding printing elements,

(D) a shaft rotatably supporting and holding said chase carrier,

(E) means for rotating said chase carrier to alternately dispose aprinting element in a printing position and -another printing element ina non-printing position where it is accessible to an operator,

(F) means for causing successive printing contact between said strip andthe printing element disposed at said printing position to therebyperform successive printing operations on said strip in synchronism withthe arrival at said printing station of successive items on said strip,and

(G) means for releasably locking said chase carrier to said shaft withone of said printing elements in said printing position, said lockingmeans comprising an element secured to said chase carrier for rotationtherewith and having stop means for each chase, a movable zlockingmember ixedly mounted on said shaft and normally urged into engagementwith one of said stop means to lock said chase carrier to said Shaft,and nmeans for moving said locking member out of engagement with saidone stop means to free said chase carrier for rotation on said shaft tochange the position of said chases, said last named means beingeffective to permit said locking member to be urged into engagement withsaid element as the latter rotates with said chase carrier whereby saidlocking member moves into engagement with another of said stop meansafter said chase carrier has rotated to move another of said chases tosaid printing position.

18. Apparatus as set forth in claim v17 further in- :luding means forrotating said chase carrier, said means :omprising a continuouslyenergized source of rotative force applied to said chase carrier wherebythe latter rotates when freed therefor upon movement of said lockingmember out of engagement with one of said stop means.

19. Apparatus for printing a plurality of groups of items each havingindicia common to all the groups with individual indicia of a differentkind for each group in two spaced apart locations on each item andpredetermined quantities for each group, said items being joined to forma continuous strip, said apparatus comprising means for continuouslyfeeding said strip past two spaced apart printing stations, two spacedapart chase carriers, a plurality of peripherally disposed chases oneach chase carrier for removably holding interchangeable printingelements, means rotatably supporting said chase carriers to transfer the'chases of each chase carrier alternately between said printingpositions and nonprinting positions in which a chase of each chasecarrier is accessible to an operator for manual removal of the printingelements therefrom, means for rotating said chase carriers, individualimpression means for each chase carrier for causing momentary printingcontact between said strip and said printing elements held in saidprinting positions, means for locking said printing elements in thechases of each chase carrier, said means including means for releasingsaid printing elements when said chases of each chase carrier are insaid accessible position to permit the printing elements to be removedfrom the accessible chases of each chase carrier and other printingelements to be replaced therein while printing from printing elementsheld in another chase of each chase carrier which is in said printingposition is being performed, power means for causing operation of saidfeeding means and both said impression means to cause printingconsecutively, from the printing elements held by one chase of eachchase carrier in said printing positions, of a predetermined number ofitems of one group with indicia individual to said one group inpredetermined relation with said common indicia and in predeterminedspaced apart locations on each item, means operable upon inactivation ofsaid power means for actuating said chase carrier rotating means,whereby said one chase of each chase carrier is moved away from theprinting position toward the accessible position, and another chase ismoved to the printing position, and settable means for predeterminingthe number of items of said one group to be printed, said settable meanshaving means responsive to operation of said impression means forinactivating said power means after said predetermined number of itemsof said one group has been printed from the printing elements held bysaid one chase of each chase carrier, and having means responsive torotation of one of said chase carriers for resetting said settable meansand for reactivating said power means to cause printing, from theprinting elements held by said other chase of each chase carrier, of apredetermined number of items of another group with indicia individualto said another group.

20. Apparatus as set forth in claim 19 further including means forvarying the speed of operation of said strip feeding means independentlyof said power means whereby the predetermined spaced relationship of theindividual indicia printed by the printing elements of each chasecarrier on each item may be varied in proportion to a change in thephysical size of the items of said strip.

21. Apparatus as set forth in claim 19 further including meansinterconnected between both said chase carriers and said power means fordelaying the activation of said power means until each of said chasecarriers has cornpleted a chase transfer movement whereby the feeding ofsaid strip and operation of said impression means are prevented untilsaid chase carriers are properly positioned and locked with one of thechases of each chase carrier in the respective printing positions.

22. Apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said power means includesindividual means for actuating each of said impression meanssequentially in timed relationship as said strip is continuouslyadvanced past said printing positions at a constant rate of speed,whereby the individual indicia printed by the printing elements of eachchase carrier is printed seriatim on each of the items, and thelocations thereof on each item are thereby closer together than thespacing beween the chase carriers.

23. Apparatus as set forth in claim 22 wherein the means of saidsettable means for inactivating the power means is responsive tooperation of the latter of the sequentially operated impression devices,whereby when said power means is inactivated upon completion of printingof said predetermined number of items, a preceding item on said strip isprinted with the individual indicia of the printing elements of eachchase carrier and the next succeeding item on said strip is unprinted.

24. Apparatus as set forth in claim 22 further including means forvarying the timed relationship of the sequential operation of saidactuating mans for each impression device independently of said powermeans whereby the predetermined spaced relationship of the individualindicia printed by the printing elements of each chase carrier on eachitem may be varied to vary the format of said items.

25. A printing device for use with a printing apparatus for printing aplurality of groups of items with individual indicia ofa different kindfor each group, said device comprising a body member, means forrotatably mounting said body member on a portion of the printingapparatus, said body member having a plurality of peripherally disposedoutwardly facing recesses formed therein for receiving printingelements, a plurality of clamping bars movably received in each recessfor releasably clamping printing elements therein, stop means fxedlysecured to said body member adjacent each recess for movably supportingsaid clamping bars and for limiting the movement thereof toward -areleasing position, and individually releasable locking means mounted onsaid body member adjacent each recess and coopcrable with the adjacentclamping means for moving said clamping means to a clamping position andfor releasably locking said clamping means in said clamping position topermit printing elements held in one lof said recesses to be removed andothers substituted therefor independently of, and without any effectupon, printing elements held in another of said recesses, said lockingmeans comprising a plurality of snap acting toggle clamps, one for eachclam-ping bar, each toggle clamp having a locking lever, the lockinglever of each toggle clamp being operable on an individual clamping bar,and all of the toggle clamps for each recess being connected together bya common operating handle whereby all of the clamping bars for eachrecess are movable simultaneously by a single manipulation of saidhandle.

26. Apparatus for printing a plurality of groups of items each havingindicia common to all the groups with individual indicia of a differentkind for each group in two spaced apart locations on each item and inpredetermined quantities for each group, said items being -joined toform a continuous strip, said apparatus comprising (A) means forcontinuously feeding a strip past two spaced apart printing stations,

(B) a printing device disposed at each of said printing stations, eachprinting device having means for holding a plurality of spaced apartprinting elements,

(C) individual means movably supporting each printing device in positionto alternately dispose a printing element held by each printing devicein a printing position and another printing element in a non-printingposition where it is accessible to an operator,

(D) means for causing successive printing contact between said strip andthe printing elements disposed at the printing position of each of saidprinting stations to thereby perform successive plural printingoperations on said strip in synchronism with the arrival at saidprinting stations of suc-cessive items on said strip, and

(E) control means operable upon completion of a predetermined number ofsaid successive plural printing operations for sequentially interruptingoperation of said feeding means and said printing contact means,simultaneously moving said printing devices to dis- .pose differentprinting elements in each of said printing positions, and resumingoperation of said feeding means and said printing contact means uponcompletio-n of movement of both said printing devices to cause printingof another predetermined number of items on said strip.

27. Apparatus as set forth in claim 26 wherein said printing contactmeans includes individual impression means for each printing device forcausing momentary printing contact between said strip and the printingelements held in said printing positions, and means for actuating sachof said impression means sequentially in timed relationship as saidstrip is advanced past said printing position at a constant rate ofspeed, whereby the individual indicia printed by the printing elementsof each printing device is printed seriatim on each of the items, andthe locations thereof on each item are closer together than the spacingbetween the printing elements in said printing positions.

28. Apparaus as set forth in claim 27 wherein said control meansincludes means responsive to a predetermined number of actuations of thelatter of said impression means in the direction of feed of said stripwhereby when said control means is rendered operable to interruptoperation of said feeding means and said impression means, a precedingitem on said strip is printed with indicia of the printing elements atboth printing positions and the next succeeding item on said strip isunprinted.

29. Apparatus as set forth in claim. 27 wherein said feeding meansincludes means for varying the speed of operation of said feeding meansindependently of the timed relationship of the actuation of saidindividual impression means by said actuating means whereby the spacedapart locations of the indicia printed by the printing elements held insaid printing positions may be varied in proportion to a change in thephysical size of the items on said strip.

30. Apparatus as set forth in claim 27 wherein said means for actuatingeach of said impression means sequentially in timed relationshipincludes means for varying the timed relationship of said sequentialactuation independently of the speed of operation of said feeding meanswhereby the spaced apart location of the indicia printed by the printingelements held in said printing positions may be varied to vary theformat of said items.

31, A printing device for use with a printing apparatus for printing aplurality of groups of items with individual indicia of a different kindfor each group, said device comprising a body member, means forrotatably mounting said body member on a portion of the printingapparatus, said body member having a plurality of peripherally disposedoutwardly facing recesses formed therein for receiving printingelements, clam-ping means movably received in each recess for releasablyclamping printing elements therein, stop means ixedly secured -to saidbody member adjacent each recess for movably supporting said clampingmeans and for limiting the movement there- 4of toward a releasingposition, individual releasable locking means mounted on said bodymemberv adjacent each recess and cooperable with the adjacent clampingmeans for moving said clamping means to a clamping position and forreleasably locking -said clamping means in said clamping position topermit printing elements held in one of said recesses to be 4removed andothers substituted therefor independently of, and without any eifectupon, printing elements held in another of said recesses, and additionalreleasable locking means mounted on said body member and engageable witha portion of said means for rotatably supporting the body member, saidadditional locking means including an element normally biased intolocking engagement with said portion of said supporting means, and meansdisposed in the path of movement of the locking means for the printingelement clamping means for engagement with the latter during the finalmovement of the latter for withdrawing said element from engagement withsaid portion of said supporting means whereby said body member is lockedagainst rotation on said supporting means unless the locking means forthe printing element clamping means is in locked position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 923,085 5/1909 Smith lOl-901,443,164 1/1923 Bracken lOl-90 2,406,726 8/ 1946 Weimont 101-3222,425,167 8/1947 Whitehead lOl-221 2,475,804 7/1949 Rouan et al. 101-2272,551,633 5/1951 Preis 101-91 2,890,650 6/1959 Bone et al. 101-193,020,116 2/1962 Pudelko 101-90 WILLIAM B. PENN, Primary Examiner.

1. APPARATUS FOR PRINTING A PLURALITY OF GROUPS OF ITEMS, EACH HAVINGINDICIA COMMON TO ALL THE GROUPS, WITH INDIVIDUAL INDICIA OF A DIFFERENTKIND FOR EACH GROUP AND IN PREDETERMINED QUANTITIES FOR EACH GROUP, SAIDITEMS BEING JOINED TO FORM A CONTINUOUS STRIP, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISINGMEANS FOR FEEDING A STRIP PAST A PRINTING STATION, A CHASE CARRIERDISPOSED AT SAID PRINTING STATION, A PLURALITY OF STATIONARYPERIPHERALLY DISPOSED CHASES ON SAID CHASE CARRIER FOR REMOVABLY HOLDINGINTERCHANGEABLE PRINTING ELEMENTS, MEANS FOR ROTATABLY SUPPORTING ANDHOLDING SAID CHASE CARRIER TO TRANSFER SAIDS CHASES ALTERNATELY BETWEENA PRINTING POSITION IN WHICH SAID PRINTING ELEMENTS ARE IMMOVABLY HELDFOR PRINTING AND A NON-PRINTING POSITION IN WHICH A CHASE IS ACCESSIBLETO AN OPERATOR FOR